Priti Patel calls for parliament to be recalled in wake of riots
Dame Priti Patel has called for parliament to be recalled in the wake of disorder and riots.
In a statement, the former home secretary said the events witnessed overnight in Sunderland were “totally unacceptable”.
“We should never excuse, or be apologists for, disorder whoever is responsible” she said.
“Violence and thuggery is always unacceptable. There is no qualification or exception. And politicians on all sides must be willing to stand up and say so.”
She said the government was “now in danger of appearing to be swept away with events rather than maintaining control of them”.
“Now is a moment for national reflection and solidarity – to pull back from the wave of violence we have seen, to call it out for what it is – without fear or favour – and for parliament to speak with one voice in condemnation. We either believe in the rule of law, or we do not,” she added.
Dozens more protests planned for this weekend
Dozens more protests have been planned for this weekend in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
Campaign group Hope Not Hate has identified more than 30 protests planned across the UK over the next two days.
On Wednesday evening, more than 100 protesters were arrested on Whitehall, where bottles and cans were thrown at police, and violence broke out in Hartlepool, County Durham, and in Manchester outside the Holiday Inn on Oldham Road.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new “national” response to the disorder linking police forces across the country.
And yesterday evening rioters battled police in the streets of Sunderland city centre following a planned protest linked to the Southport knife attack.
Northumbria Police have said in a post on X that its officers had been “subjected to serious violence”, and added that three officers were taken to hospital.
Eight people have so far been arrested for a range of offences, including violent disorder and burglary, the force added.
